Decision on Possible Attack on Iraqi Town Seems Near (Fallujah - NYT)

[VolcanoJen]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/25/politics/25IRAQ.html?hp



Who the hell are they kidding? Who wants to bet the carnage is underway even as I type this? My stomach is uneasy and my head hurts... and I can barely contain this anger and frustration.

Excerpt:

As Mr. Bush discusses strategy for Falluja, administration and senior military officials portray his choices as dismal.

"It's clear you can't leave a few thousand insurgents there to terrorize the city and shoot at us," one senior official involved in the discussions said in an interview on Saturday. "The question now is whether there is a way to go in with the most minimal casualties possible."

No decision to begin military action has been made yet.

The chief of the American occupation authority, L. Paul Bremer III, visited Falluja on Saturday with Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, the senior commander in Iraq, to consult with frontline commanders. They appeared to be making a last-ditch effort for a negotiated settlement.

But in Washington, Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld has expressed strong doubts that the Falluja political and business figures the Americans are talking to hold any sway over the insurgents.

[boobooday]

1. Who is the enemy now?

Hard to tell. Bush is only making things worse. If only this were a nightmare and we could all just wake up . . .



http://www.wgoeshome.com

[skooooo]

8. We have always been at war with Eurasia!

[DemNoir]

2. God always tells our President to kill

It is not hard to guess what will happen.

[gottaB]

3. spot on

Funny how it always works out that way

[saigon68]

4. I don't think God communicates W/ him

I'll give you 1 to 3 odds ---its the Big Guy Satan.

[leftchick]

5. exactly saigon....

I sometimes feel very stongly that the aWol* chimp occupying the WH is indeed the anti-Christ. Too many similarites to be ignored.

[VolcanoJen]

6. leftchick, saigon...

I just wanna do this, ok?

:grouphug:

I love you guys.

[saigon68]

7. Thanks

:-) :-) :-)

[leftchick]

13. thank you Jen.....

I had to go to bed right after posting that last night. Learning our Greensboro soldier was found dead too! This is all so fucking depressing. I thank you for the compassion. The feeling is mutual Jen, you are the best!

[54anickel]

9. You have no idea -

how many times I thought the exact same thing.

And the wacked out fundie types that beat people upside the head with their absolute truth, literal translation of the Bible are the ones that get "Left Behind".

Isn't there a warning in the Bible about false prophets?

[leftchick]

14. Indeed... Matthew 7:15-23

Looking at Matthew 7:15-23, we find Jesus gives us the guideline for determining false prophets:

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

....seem perfect doesn't it?

[saigon68]

21. As I go to Mass this morning to pray for the souls of the dead

from all sides, because they are human.

I shall ask forgiveness for my angry temper and reflect on the above passsage from Matthew.

I further fear civil disobedience will commence when the draft is announced. And pray that those who oppose this violence are not gunned down like the students at Kent State in 1970.

[54anickel]

22. Thank you Leftchick. Yes, perfect and ironic. A very important message

for these troubling days. I will need to reflect on this and what type of fruits I have been baring in my life.
(Another one to send off to Shrub.)

[demoman123]

12. Bush is not the anti-Christ

Not enough charisma.

[Raenelle]

10. No need for bogeymen here--that's how undisciplined ego behaves

[saigon68]

11. THE FIRST VICEROY OF IRAQ-NAM



THE FIRST VICEROY OF IRAQ-NAM

Viceroy Pontius Paul Bremer I

announced that more former members of Saddam's military would be allowed to join the ranks of
the new US-trained army because of the poor performance of the Iraqi forces during rebel
attacks.(AFP/Pool/File/Damir Sagolj)

[maddezmom]

15. agree Jen, the decision has been made

now only thing to do is wait and see how far bush* and his gang go. :(

[hang a left]

16. I am crossing my fingers that they are trying to save face here.

I have read a few opinions in the last few days here that this may, in fact, be the current strategy. That perhaps we won't storm Fallujah and Najaf. I am hoping that these bastards will find a way out. I am praying.

[maddezmom]

17. "Marines will share patrols with Iraqis" from today

FALLUJAH, Iraq -- As US officials grappled with whether to attack this insurgent stronghold, US and Iraqi negotiations announced yesterday that US Marines will start joint patrols with Iraqi police and civil defense forces in Fallujah on Tuesday morning.

Marines at Camp Fallujah, headquarters of the First Marine Expeditionary Force, were preparing for an as-yet-unannounced operation that they half-jokingly called ''the battle to end all battles in Fallujah," The previous night and early morning, Marines seemed to carry out a show of force, as mortars thundered from the US base here and the grinding sound of the guns of US AC-130 warplanes could be heard.

~snip~
more:http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2004/04/25/marines_will_share_patrols_with_iraqis/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

don't know what to think anymore

[hang a left]

18. From your post

"US officials hope to avoid a bloody urban battle without letting leaders of the insurgency there -- whom they characterize as a mix of remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime and Islamic militants from Iraq and neighboring countries -- claim victory."


I hate the way that they get away with identifying the Shiites.

[hang a left]

19. This is encouraging also

"Last night, the occupation authority announced $10 million to be spent on public works in Fallujah, with $25 million more on the way."


Perhaps we can bribe our way out?

[0007]

20. Everything Junior sez is a historic moment in stupidity

Is the admin waiting for public opinion? Or are they trying to convince themselves they have no other choice, but to try and save face.

If they go in this will be the called the dumbest of dumb.

[dbt]

23. Judging from new reports Sunday morning 4/25,

It looks like we are going into Najaf. And once again huge, newsworthy developments (the kind that might make The Sheep nervous) occur on a weekend.

Whatever troops we send into Najaf (and can Falluja be far behind?) might as well be called Kamikaze.

:freak:
dbt

[maddezmom]

26. just saw video on CNN of "select searches"

looks like the US was in Fallujah, but reporting not "really" going in. Whatever that means? Tuesday seems to be the date they are targeting for a decision whether or not to go in full force.

[maddezmom]

27. select searches=probes

:(

[symbolman]

24. "MURDER BY NUMBERS" Flash Movie (Re: Troop Coffins) by Symbolman

I just created this over the past few days.. I think it's one of my best, but I always say that

I call it, "MURDER BY NUMBERS" -it's based on the song by The Police..

This time they've gone TOO F*CKING FAR.. these troops BELONG to the AMERICAN PEOPLE and their families, they are NOT Bush's personal little ARMY GUYS..

Here's the url if you want to have a look, and pass it on to your neighbors..

Turn up those speakers!

this takes BUSH to TASK. AND his Old Man, the other Butcher of Bagdad.

http://www.takebackthemedia.com/murderby.html

Bring them HOME NOW, before they have to come home in a box.

[Kukesa]

25. Wow!

I'm speechless, symbolman. "Murder by Numbers" should be seen by everyone and I'll do my part to send it to my email list.

Thanks for all the hard work.

Kukesa

[NewYorkerfromMass]

28. It's been called off

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001912812_iraq26.html

U.S. postpones plans for attack in Fallujah

By Rajiv Chandrasekaran and Karl Vick
The Washington Post

BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. Marines have postponed plans to mount an attack against insurgents holed up in Fallujah and instead will attempt to regain control of the violence-racked city without a full-scale offensive, military commanders said yesterday....